Kanheri Caves: The Great Buddhist Civilization of Western India

Kanheri Caves: The Best Kept Buddhist Secret of Mumbai!!
Kanheri caves were one of the major Buddhist centres in Western India during ancient times.
They were built between the 1st century BC to 10th century AD and acted as monastery and learning centre for more than 1000 years.
It is located within the Sanjay Gandhi National Park in the North of Mumbai and consists of 109 caves.
It was one of the largest Buddhist monastic settlements in India.
The cave complex has 51 ancient inscriptions and 26 epigraphs.
It is famous for its rock-cut monolithic Stupas and hundreds of statues of Buddha and Bodhisattvas.
It is also known for the water harvesting system developed by ancient engineers thousands of years ago, still in working condition.
The Kanheri monastery was Theravada in origin.
Later it became an important centre for Mahayana doctrine. Initially, it was used during the rainy retreats of the monks.
Once the caves became permanent monasteries, intricate reliefs of Buddha and the Bodhisattvas started to be carved into the walls.
Kanheri became an important centre of Buddhism in western India by the 3rd century AD.
The caves of Kanheri were used for living, learning and religious practices.
The larger caves were chaityas or halls for worship.
The hill in which the caves are situated is known as Krishnagiri or Kanhagiri.
It is a large mass of compact basalt rock.
The highest point of the complex is fifteen hundred fifty feet above sea level.
The caves were built on different levels of the hill.
The majority of the rock-cut caves follow a standard model of a single or double room for monks, with rock-cut benches and a narrow verandah.
Kanheri is the only Buddhist monastic cave settlement in India, which was continuously inhabited by monks, for more than 1600 years.
One can reach this Buddhist site through the gate of Sanjay Gandhi National park.
The entry of the Kanheri cave complex is off the western side of the hill.
During the ancient ages, the Kanheri settlement was well connected to many trade centres.
These trade centres included Sopara, Kalyan Karla, Bhaja, and Paithan.
The traders and kings of these cities also provided patronage to the monastic complex.
Kanheri was a major centre of Theravada in the beginning and later for Mahayana and Tantric Buddhism.
The monks and students have long left the hills, but the caves and its images still tell the story of its past glory and significance of the major centre of Buddhism that was Kanheri !!
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#Kanheri #Mumbai #Kanhericaves

[@abhinandanvishwakarma1441]

I have been visited this place multiple times but I only took it as beautiful n peaceful place and I was very much curious to know that these structures means and this video helped me a lot. Thank you for your great efforts. 🙌💗

[@BodhisattvaTravels]

Thanks !! I am glad that it helped !!

[@jayBharatiraanga6425]

​@@BodhisattvaTravels Practice Veepasana Campaign Canvass for Same Promote Distance Learning From Open University Protect All Ancient Buddhist Caves 📢💦🌹

[@nirajjha4181]

This is really good place to visit. Nice video for knowing the history..great

[@lotlikarscollection8034]

People must watch this video..& stop writing nonsense there on cave... All must know the secret behind the beauty of kanheri!! Plse preserve it

[@BodhisattvaTravels]

So true. kanheri is a common heritage of humankind. This historical Buddhist complex must be protected and preserved.

[@rahawk69]

Thank you for helping me travel when i can’t, during the Covid19 Pandemic.

[@BodhisattvaTravels]

Thanks a lot for your kind words.

[@anilsawlekar5389]

Really nice information. Thanks.

[@saffron1977]

I used to live in Borivali and used frequent this place quite regularly, last I had been there is in 2019

[@Divorcedhousemaid666]

Are u still rolling 🙏🏽🙏🏽🙏🏽

[@Santoshplakhe]

Is double vaccination is compulsory to visit the cave?

[@BodhisattvaTravels]

As per the latest guideline, the requirement for interstate travel is a full vaccination certificate or COVID-19 negative report from an RT-PCR test taken up to 72 hours before entering Maharashtra.

[@Divorcedhousemaid666]

The glory of ancient Theravada Buddhism❤️❤️

[@slomo4672]

I'm glad to learn about this Mahayana center. Theravada followers deny that Sidhartha Gautama taught Mahayana. I dream that one day ancient manuscripts are uncovered in India that tell us how Mahayana sutras were compiled, like the accounts of how Theravada sutras were compiled.

[@aminvogue]

The passage of era's dealt a deadly blow such a magnificent Religion, culture ad architecture that subsequent religions Brahmanism, Islamic and Christiniaty all destroyed these gems...I am baffled n awake now. Thanks a lot sir for sharing such a treasure with us.

[@sangheetkumar5153]

Great....explanation...👍👍👍🙏🙏

[@BodhisattvaTravels]

Thanks !! I am glad that you liked it !!

[@karthikkarthik453]

Buddisam much more older than Hinduism

[@Sarang_Vet]

Thank You So Much For This Video

[@BodhisattvaTravels]

Thanks, I am glad that you liked it !! Our cities are full of hidden jewels about which we are unaware of and cannot appreciate fully. The best way to appreciate is to gain more knowledge about them. Kanheri is one such jewel that can be fully appreciated, only once we are aware of its glorious history. Visting these places gives me a totally new perspective about our history and our culture.

[@varawealthascenders4814]

Very nice information ref book name pl

[@BodhisattvaTravels]

The books that I referred to are 1. Buddhist Rock Cut Monasteries of the Western Ghats (George Michell and Gethin Rees) 2. Buddhist Heritage sites of India (Sunita Dwivedi), 3. Buddhist India Rediscovered (Aruna Deshpande) and 4. Buddhist and Hindu Architecture in India (Anubhav Pandey). I regret the delay in responding to your comment. Thanks.

[@sunitamore8718]

Satnam Waheguru ji ki Jay🙏🌹 Respectful Sir Civilization near the Civil Society of growth of culture

[@floptaxie68]

I hope this place may be restored and be a house of monks again😢

[@kraut1982]

I thought the caves were carved during Ashoka times and so we see Ashoka chakra on the pillars.

[@ajaylokare5384]

Great indian heritage ☸️🇮🇳💙🙏

[@MiteshJain-fq8ye]

Nice video Thank you sir

[@didierroux1547]

from Mumbai How many Kilometers is this Buddhists Caves of Kanheri ?

[@BodhisattvaTravels]

The caves are around 25 kilometres from the Mumbai Airport.

[@ganeshvakale2338]

Very well narrated .beautiful.

[@BodhisattvaTravels]

Thanks. I am glad that you liked the video.

[@nikardewan1297]

As it's a historical site of Buddhism, I think, including the Church inside the cave,rights of this site should be fully handed over to Archiological Society of India.The existing church may co-exist at a seperate place on the same hill. Beside, a secured portion of the cave may be handed over to the Buddhist Society for regular worship and other rituals. Iam sure that,if properly communicated our Hon'ble PM Modi will show a right path to it.Jai Bharat.

[@floptaxie68]

Nah, the entire cave for the Buddhist society. There are plenty of churches in Portugal.

[@lancehobbs8012]

10:56 which side is Tara? I understood Tara to be only found in Tibetan style Buddhist tradition, and would come after this carving was made?

[@sanskarvsahu1375]

There is Cave 102 also . Find it ,must see

[@sonukuar]

Namo Budhay

[@sithimutucumarana3449]

India was under the Persian Empire. Buddha was born and passed away in Siri Lanka.

[@c.a.t.732]

Wrong, wrong and wrong.